Why

 

empathy

 

is

 

a

 

superpower

 

for

 

leaders

It’s lonely at the top is a phrase that’s been around for a very long time. 

This seems to have taken on new power recently, with the US Surgeon General warning about the impact that loneliness can have on us. It’s as bad for us as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 

So if it is lonely at the top, do we really want our leaders to be unhealthy? And what can we do about it? 

Naim Maadad, CEO and founder of Gates Hospitality, sits down with ‘the mentl space’ to discuss getting to the top, the pressure of staying at the top, and the importance of empathy for those leading their organisations.

We discuss: 

It’s lonely at the top. 0:03

What are the pressures that come with success? 2:29

How does the pressure play out on the team? 6:24

Managing the pressure of being a leader. 8:18

The importance of staying on track with your business. 12:45

How does loneliness play into the workplace? 15:12

Deciding not to change your name. 19:24

How important is your own validation? 23:59

Advice to trainees coming into the workplace. 27:57

How leaders need to let go of romanticising the past. 31:36